RSVP of Montgomery County's My Free Tutor programs gives award to Norristown Area High School student

Norristown Area High School Vice President Chuck Brenner presents ninth-grader Oscar Garcia with certificate of achievement and kindle for his academic performance in the RSVP of Montgomery County My Free Tutor program. Submitted photo

NORRISTOWN — Oscar Garcia, a ninth- grade student at Norristown Area High School, recently became the recipient of a certificate of achievement and a brand new Kindle for his academic performance in the RSVP of Montgomery County’s My Free Tutor program.

The algebra one tutoring program, which brings together struggling freshmen students and volunteer tutors in a web-based format during the school day, started as a pilot program at Norristown Area High School in October of 2013.

The high school’s vice principal, Chuck Brenner, presented Garcia with the award for displaying a significant turnaround in classroom performance, increased classroom participation and cooperation with tutors. Garcia was selected by Norristown math teachers, who were polled by members of the My Free Tutor program regarding student achievement.

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Tutors in the program meet on a weekly basis in a secure online classroom environment, where students and tutors both wear headphones and microphones without cameras while they share a virtual whiteboard, according to Margie Singer, My Free Tutor coordinator. The one-on-one tutoring sessions are held during the school day, as a supplement to classroom instruction.

The whiteboard has a program capable of generating algebraic equations, as well as a pencil that functions just like “paint” programs and allows tutors to upload problems from the textbook. Tutors can see students’ scratch work as they try to solve problems and can give immediate feedback.

Volunteers have access to an online guide to the students’ textbook and regularly communicate with the students’ teachers, who keep the tutors up to date on classroom pacing including upcoming tests and quizzes.

“If it’s a specific need the teachers can also help tutors focus on those specific areas,” Singer said about the various ways tutors help struggling students ranging from reinforcing fundamentals, PSSA preparation, or specific trouble areas.

According to Singer, about half of the 25 current volunteer tutors are retired, while the other half are in professional fields that require the use of math.

“It’s ideal for people that want to volunteer and give back to the community,” Singer said. “They don’t have to drive anywhere and they can do it during their work day ...

“Some tutors are retired engineers or math teachers looking for ways to help students. We’ve also been able to recruit corporate volunteers.”

Several volunteers work at SAP, a technology company, she said. Because My Free Tutor is a certified educational improvement organization, corporations that partner with RSVP may qualify for an educational improvement tax credit of up to 90 percent.

Singer said it is important for struggling students to have resources they can depend on so that they do not end up falling behind.

“The people tutoring now are so committed that we’ve had a number of them tutor from remote locations. One was in India and she still logged in to help a student. One was on vacation in Puerto Rico. Another was in London on business,” Singer said. “It’s good for the student to first know their tutors are committed and second are able to virtually communicate in another time zone.”

Singer said one of the goals of My Free Tutor is to show students how math is necessary for all careers — not just for college bound students, but also for any students planning on vocational schools. Volunteers host science technology engineering and math mini-workshops to expose students to a variety of careers.

Recently, My Free Tutor has expanded its services by partnering with Kensington Health Sciences Academy in the Philadelphia School District.

Though My Free Tutor has expanded to the new school and now has 25 tutors working with 20 students, Singer said the program can always use more tutors.

All tutors are required to have up-to-date criminal history and child abuse clearances in order to enroll in the program. If an applicant does not have recent clearance, RSVP will submit and pay for the necessary clearances.

The website also gives information for prospective tutors, including a link to videos of tutoring sessions and a link to the actual whiteboard used during tutoring that gives potential volunteers the chance to test out the program before applying.

Volunteers are required to pass a qualifying test in order to become a tutor. Singer said this should not scare away any potential volunteers that are unsure if they remember their ninth-grade algebra, because RSVP can provide volunteers with resources to help them prepare for the qualifying test.

RSVP of Montgomery County is a nonprofit organization that helps to place volunteers into agencies and programs dedicated to helping vulnerable members of the community.

To learn more about RSVP and ways to volunteer, visit their website, www.rsvpmc.org.